And the Winner is . . .

Constitutional Court Rejects Challenges to May 15 Bali Governor Race

(6/22/2013) The Indonesian Constitutional Court has rejected efforts by Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Puspayoga and Dewa Nyoman Sukrawan to appeal the results of the May 15, 2013 Bali gubernatorial election.

Ali Mochtar, the chief judge of the Constitutional Court, told the PDIP candidates that their appeal of the elections results had been rejected in its entirety in a decision rendered in Jakarta on June 20, 2013.

As reported by OKEZONE, the court ruled that the plaintiff had failed to adequately question the results of the vote count that declared Made Mangku Pastika and I Ketut Sudikerta as governor and deputy-governor of Bali. Instead, Puspayoga and Sukrawan chose to challenge the results on the basis of alleged structural and systematic irregularities that allegedly reduced the number of total votes cast.

Allegations that fraudulent votes were cast using the names of non-participating voters were denied by the Bali Elections Commission (KPU-Bali) who presented proof to refute these claims. The Courts also stated that voters casting multiple votes by representing non-present voters have occurred in past legislative races, presidential races and the election of regional leaders without objection.

Furthermore, the Court found that the opening of a ballot box by the Buleleng Election Commission (KPU-Buleleng) three days after the vote recapitulation had no potential to change the previously announced vote outcome.

The Court also rejected allegations of “money politics” saying the evidence presented did not support those charges.

In closing, the Constitutional Court ratified the findings of the Bali Provincial Election Commission (KPU-Bali) that declared Pastika and Sudikerta governor and deputy-governor for Bali 2013-2018 by winning 50.02% of the vote casts.